Two senior ministers have responded after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon described their recent criticisms of the Waitangi Tribunal as “ill-considered.”
The tribunal is currently holding an inquiry into the Government’s plan to scrap Section 7AA of the Oranga Tamariki Act, which compels the ministry to give effect to the Treaty of Waitangi.
Section 7AA in the Act requires the Oranga Tamariki chief executive to publicly report on the agency's progress in improving outcomes for Māori children in state care.
ACT Party leader David Seymour accused the tribunal of "race fanaticism", while NZ First deputy leader Shane Jones said it had no business operating as a "star chamber" summoning ministers to give evidence.
An urgent letter to Luxon on Wednesday by the Māori Law Society described Jones' comments as not only "inappropriate" and "unconstitutional" but also a breach of the minister’s obligations in the Cabinet Manual.
Luxon told reporters during a stand-up from Manila yesterday that his ministers' comments were "ill-considered".
"We expect all ministers to exercise good judgement in their communications on matters like this," Luxon said.
"What we need to be focused on is... to look at the future role of the Waitangi Tribunal going forward and that's something that should happen in a proper and considered process.
"I think the comments are ill-considered."
Seymour today told 1News he was “surprised” by Luxon’s comments.
“If you have a concern about another leader’s comments, you should raise them directly rather than through media, which is what I intend to do.”
Seymour earlier said he was “deeply fearful” for the tribunal in regards to its summons of Children’s Minister Karen Chhour to give evidence, accusing it of “race fanaticism.”
The ACT leader claimed the tribunal "don't seem to understand the subject", saying Chhour was seeking to repeal Section 7AA, "because a child’s safety and welfare matter more than their race".
"Section 7AA has led to Māori children being uplifted from loving homes due to the ethnicity of the carers. The tribunal seems to think that’s OK. I call it race fanaticism," Seymour said.
"The tribunal summonsed the wrong woman, on the wrong issue, at the wrong time. No wonder some people think they’re past their use-by date. Perhaps they should be wound up for their own good."
Jones today told 1News he had “moved on” from the comments made by Luxon yesterday.
“My focus is on the coalition agreement.”
Jones also criticised the decision to summons Chhour earlier this week, telling Waatea News earlier this week: "The Waitangi Tribunal has no business running its operations as some sort of star chamber delivering summons for ministers to rock up and be cross-examined or grilled."
He also said he was looking forward to conducting a review of the Tribunal’s powers as part of the coalition agreement.
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